Revenge not on cards for Dhoni and Ponting

Mahendra Singh Dhoni has denies claims India will look to settle any grudges against Australia when their Test series begins.

Sachin Tendulkar and MS Dhoni in action during training as India prepare to take on Australia in the first Test next week.

BANGALORE // Mahendra Singh Dhoni has denied claims India will look to settle any grudges against Australia when their Test series begins here next week. Much hype surrounds the four-Test series after the two nations were involved in a controversy-plagued in Australia earlier this year. That series saw the Indians' threatening to leave the tour early after Harbhajan Singh was banned for an alleged racist remark at Andrew Symonds. While Harbhajan's ban was later lifted, the ill feeling between the teams remained with further controversies over catches and sledging.

"It's not about settling things because in that case you get desperate and that can affect your game." Dhoni concedes the hype surrounding the series has intensified in recent days, but he believes it has been the closeness of their recent battles that are the reason. The Australia captain Ricky Ponting also sought to float the idea that he and India skipper, Anil Kumble, come to an agreement over accepting the fielder's word in disputed catches. That was one of the issues in the last series.

"I will have a think about it over the next couple of days and see if I think it is the right idea to bring it up again," Ponting said. * PA Sport